Giulia Giorgetti, Marion Wine Bar
What is your role at Trader House and what does this involve?
I am the Assistant Restaurant Manager at Marion Wine Bar. My focus is making sure the venue is operating at its optimum to give our guests the very best experience that we can. This involves working closely with other managers and chefs in the team. I provide support to the Restaurant Manager in areas of recruitment, training, rosters, administration, coordination of the systems we have in place, and building new systems as they are required.
What has been your journey in hospitality prior to joining Trader House?
I worked in hospitality from when I was fifteen years old, while studying history and art in Florence. Eventually, my brother, who is a chef, convinced me to go into business with him and we opened a restaurant in Umbria. I did this for a few years but really wanted to explore the world beyond. I visited Australia twice before deciding that’s where I wanted to be (and I also fell in love with an Australian!). I lived and worked in Brisbane initially, which is where my partner is from. He is a chef. After about a year, we decided to move to Melbourne for our careers because we both think it’s where real hospitality is. It’s really dynamic and competitive.
What do you like to do when you're not at work?
Everything is related to work! As a hospitality professional we need to keep our knowledge up. That involves a lot of wine, a lot of eating out, seeing new concepts – I love to see new ideas. On my days off, I usually start the day with a walk in Fitzroy, stopping at Falco or Lune for a treat. I try to go to as many art exhibitions as I can. In general I love art, design, fashion and I appreciate the many ways the modern and past worlds communicate. I think hospitality is just another way we can communicate ideas and trends.
Are there any women in hospitality (or other industries) that have inspired you and/or mentored you?
My most recent inspiration comes from the transgender Italian theatre actor Drusilla Foer. I like her because she is very cultured but also very unusual – she doesn’t conform. Her vocabulary is very wide and the way she expresses simple concepts of life is very poetic – but also very direct. My mentors were my literature and history teachers at school. Two strong women with incredible knowledge who shaped my interest and personality as well. They brought up in me the passion of knowledge and culture, a desire to understand human evolution through the ages of history.
If you could give one piece of advice for women thinking of embarking on a career in hospitality what would that be?
‘Stay true to yourself. This environment can be challenging and confusing. Allow yourself to be strong but also emotionally connected. Emotions are not a weakness – they are an asset.’
What’s next for you in your career and what are your long-term aspirations?
Potentially, I wouldn’t mind opening my own wine bar with my partner in the long run. But for now, I’m really enjoying working for Trader House, and I’d like to progress further within the group. I love the culture, professionalism, and structure. It’s beautiful working with such a big team - it makes you grow as a professional and also as a human.
